US Fed News Service, Including US State News back issues from Tuesday, March 25:
Japanese Inventors Develop GD3-Mimetic Peptides
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Dai Ishikawa, Koichi Ogino and Takao Taki, all from Tokushima, Japan, have developed a GD3-mimetic peptides. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "GD3-Mimetic peptides which contain an amino acid sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to ...
Taiwanese Inventors Develop Metal Oxide Semiconductor Device Making Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Ming-Kwei Lee, Jung-Jie Huang, Chih-Feng Yen and Tsung-Shiun Wu, all from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, have developed a method for making a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) device. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A method for making a MOS device ...
U.S., German Inventors Develop Micro-Mechanical Beam Protective Support Structure
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Wilhelm Frey and Zhiyu Pan, both of Mountain View, Calif., and Andreas Niendorf of Berlin, have developed support structures. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An arrangement for use with a micro-mechanical beam, in which a plurality of ...
California Inventor Develops Mask Profile Control System
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Camelia Rusu of Fremont, Calif., has developed a mask profile control system. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A method for etching features into a dielectric layer over a substrate and existent below a polymeric hard mask is provided ....
Ohio Inventor Develops Metal Nanowires Synthesis Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Avetik Harutyunyan of Columbus, Ohio, has developed a method for synthesis of metal nanowires. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A metalorganic layer is deposited on a substrate as a thin film. The thermal decomposition of the metalorganic ...
Florida Inventors Develop Thin Film Resistors Integrated Process
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- John T. Gasner of Satellite Beach, Fla., John Stanton of Palm Bay, Fla., Dustin A. Woodbury of Indian Harbour Beach, Fla., and James D. Beasom of Melbourne Village, Fla., have developed an integrated process for thin film resistors. According to the U.S ....
German Inventors Develop Layer Thickness Controlling Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Yi-Jen Lo, Axel Buerke, Sven Schmidbauer, and Chiang-Hung Lin, all from Dresden, Germany, have developed a method for controlling layer thickness. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A method for controlling a thickness of a first layer of ...
Idaho Inventor Develops Semiconductor Constructions Formation Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- David J. Keller of Boise, Idaho, has developed a method of forming semiconductor constructions. According to a description of the invention, released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The invention pertains to methods of forming semiconductor ...
Illinois Inventor Develops Internet Account Holders Contact System
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Gerald L. Jenkins of Highland Park, Ill., has developed Internet and like networks. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A method of enabling a server to contact an unknown Internet account holder can begin with the server receiving a request ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Operation Status Determination Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Yoshihiro Yamazaki and Hideki Tanaka, both of Nirasaki, Japan, have developed an operation status determination method. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "In an operation status determination method for a plasma processing apparatus, a ...
South Korean Inventors Develop Thin Film Transistor Manufacturing Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Min-Chul Suh and Jae-Bon Koo, both of Suwon-si, South Korea, have developed a method of manufacturing thin film transistor (TFT). According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Provided are a method of manufacturing an organic TFT, the organic TFT ...
Taiwanese Inventors Develop Multi-Layer Hard Mask Structure
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Kaan-Lu Tzou and Yi-Nan Chen, both of Taipei, Taiwan, and Tzu-Ching Tsai of Taoyuan, Taiwan, have developed a multi-layer hard mask structure. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to a "method for etching a deep trench in ...
Taiwanese Inventors Develop Lead-Free Bump Formation Process
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Feng-Lung Chien, Huang-Chuan Chang and Chun-Sheng Ho, all from Taichung Hsien, Taiwan, have developed a process for forming lead-free bump. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to a "process for forming a lead-free bump ...
California Inventors Develop Disposable Hard Mask
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Minh-Van Ngo, Angela T. Hui and Cinti Xiaohua Chen, all from Fremont, Calif., and Hirokazu Tokuno of Cupertino, Calif., have developed a disposable hard mask. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A method includes forming a group of ...
Idaho Inventors Develop Memory Device
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Gurtej S. Sandhu, Zhiping Yin and Weimin Li, all from Boise, Idaho, have developed a memory device. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A masking structure having multiple layers is formed. The masking structure includes an amorphous carbon ...
New York, Connecticut Inventors Develop Semiconductor Structure Making Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Shom Ponoth of Fishkill, N.Y., Steven Shyng-Tsong Chen of Patterson, N.Y., John Anthony Fitzsimmons of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and Terry Allen Spooner of New Fairfield, Conn., have developed a method of making a semiconductor structure. According to the U.S ....
Japanese Inventor Develops Semiconductor Device Fabrication Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Yoshiaki Yamamoto of Kanagawa, Japan, has developed a method of fabricating semiconductor device. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A method of fabricating a semiconductor device prevents agglomeration of a seed metal layer in a recess. A ...
British, Swiss Inventors Develop Multiple Folliculogenesis Induction Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Stephen G. Hillier of Edinburgh, Great Britain, and Colin Michael Howles of Geneva, Switzerland, have developed a method for inducing multiple folliculogenesis. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The invention provides a new use for ...
California, Arizona, North Carolina Inventors Develop Misaligned Memory Load Performing Apparatus
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- William W. Macey Jr. of Palo Alto, Calif., Eric L. Debes of Santa Clara, Calif., Mark J. Buxton of Chandler, Ariz., and Patrick J. Fay of Apex, N.C., have developed a misaligned memory load performing method. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark ...
Italian Inventors Develop E-mail Messages Managing Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Gero Morreale, Sandro Piccinini and Claudio Morgia, all from Rome, have developed an e-mail message managing method. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "In a data processing system supporting an electronic mail messaging system, a method of ...
North Carolina Inventor Develops Three-Dimensional Integrated Circuit
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Paul M Enquist of Cary, N.C., has developed a three-dimensional integrated circuit. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to a "method of connecting elements such as semiconductor devices and a device having connected ...
Inventors Develop Solid Tumors Treatment Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Theodore J. Lampidis of Miami, Fla., and Waldemare Priebe of Houston, have developed a cancer treatment method. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Glycolytic inhibitors are useful in the treatment of solid tumors by attacking anaerobic ...
Utah Inventors Develop Resource Access Facilitation Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Gregory P. Olsen of Lindon, Utah, and David A. Eatough of Herriman, Utah, have developed a resource access facilitation method. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Systems and methods are provided to facilitate resource access using ...
Taiwanese Inventors Develop Semiconductor Device Fabrication Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Chen-Nan Yeh and Hun-Jan Tao, both of HsinChu, Taiwan, and Miao-Ju Hsu of Bei-kong, Taiwan, have developed methods of fabricating semiconductor device. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A method for post-etch copper cleaning uses a ...
Texas, Florida Inventors Develop Semiconductor Device Fabrication Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Robert Kraft and Ping Jiang, both of Plano, Texas, Ting Y. Tsui of Garland, Texas, and Jeannette M. Jacques of Tallahassee, Fla., have developed a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A ...
Taiwanese Inventors Develop Semiconductor Device Making Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Dah-Chung Oweyang and Chih-Cheng Lin, both of Hsinchu County, Taiwan, Hsueh-Liang Hung of Yung Ho, Taiwan, and Bang-Chein Ho of Hsin-Chu, Taiwan, have developed a method of making a semiconductor device. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Semiconductor Device Manufacturing Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Takahiro Kimura and Chihiro Uchibori, both of Kawasaki, Japan, have developed a method of manufacturing semiconductor device. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A semiconductor device manufacturing method comprises the steps of forming a ...
Pennsylvania Inventors Develop Microelectromechanical System Built-In Self-Test Apparatus
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Nilmoni Deb of Pittsburgh, and Ronald D. Shawn Blanton of Sewickley, Pa., have developed a microelectromechanical system (MEMS). According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The present disclosure is directed to an apparatus and method for producing ...
Taiwanese Inventors Develop Semiconductor Interconnect Structure Formation Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Ju-Wang Hsu of Taipei, Taiwan, Jyu-Horng Shieh of Hsin-chu, Taiwan, and Yi-Chun Huang of Pingjhen, Taiwan, have developed a method for forming a semiconductor interconnect structure. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A semiconductor ...
Taiwanese Inventor Develops Scanner Carrier
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Wen-Yuan Chang of Hsinchu, Taiwan, has developed a scanner carrier. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A carrier device for a contact image sense optical scanner. The carrier device incorporates a pair of magnets with identical poles facing ...
Belgian Inventor Develops Digital Image Printing Ordering Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Erik Huysmans of Herenthout, Belgium, has developed a digital image printing system. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A method for ordering printing of a digital image by a customer and a system in which the method is implemented. The ...
U.S., Israeli Inventors Develop Computer-Aided Product Development Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Jose Gomes of Douglaston, N.Y., Man Mohan Singh of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Sai Zeng of Elmsford, N.Y., Laurent Balmelli of White Plains, N.Y., Ioana Boier-Martin of Pelham Manor, N.Y., Mila Keren of Nesher, Israel, and Julia Rubin of Rechasim, Israel, have developed ...
Georgia Inventors Develop Color-Balanced Multiple Print Engine
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Michael W. Barry, Jack N. Bartholmae and Francis A. Rowe, all from Duluth, Ga., Neal E. Tompkins of Atlanta, and Peter A.Zuber of Norcross, Ga., have developed a print engine. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A method and apparatus is ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Image Evaluation Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Fumihiro Nakashige and Mitsumasa Nomoto, both of Kanagawa, Japan, have developed an image evaluation apparatus. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An image evaluation program is implemented in an image evaluation apparatus to evaluate a dot ...
Japanese Inventor Develops Information Management Device
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Hironori Matsugi of Nagano-ken, Japan, has developed an information management device. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An information management device receives an object image to be retouched and printed and a specification of ...
South Korean Inventors Develop Inkjet Multi-Function Machine
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Young-bok Ju of Seongnam, South Korea, and Kyung-chool Choi of Suwon, South Korea, have developed a multi-function machine. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An inkjet multi-function machine having cooperating scanning and printing ...
South Korean Inventor Develops Light Scanning Unit
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Dong-hun Lee of Seoul, South Korea, has developed a light scanning unit. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A laser scanning unit and a light source unit employed in the same are provided. The laser scanning unit forms a linear latent image ...
Japanese Inventor Develops Image Reading Device
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Noboru Kusunose of Kanagawa, Japan, has developed an image reader. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An image reading device for reading a document while conveying it of the present invention includes a reading member for reading the ...
California Inventor Develops Usage Data Collecting, Storing, Processing Apparatus
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Stephen P. Dulac of Santa Clarita, Calif., has developed a usage data collecting, storing and processing apparatus. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to a "method, apparatus and article of manufacture for collecting, ...
Japanese Inventor Develops Image Printing Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Naohiro Isshiki of Kanagawa, Japan, has developed an image printer. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "To prevent generation of an error caused by a print job spooled in a memory in boot processing of an image printing apparatus, a print ...
New York Inventor Develops Full Color Images Conversion Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Stephen R. Payne of Cortland, N.Y., has developed an image color converting method. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Methods and apparatus are provided for converting a full color image to a two-color image for printing at a two-color ...
Massachusetts Inventor Develops Automatic Test System Configuring Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Gilbert R. Reese of Boston has developed an automatic test system configuring method. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A system and method for configuring an automatic test system to produce a plurality of clocks from a reference clock ...
German Inventors Develop Printing Machine Controlling Device
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Silke Husterer and Thomas Husterer, both of Bammental, Germany, Ulrich Grimm of Dielheim, Germany, Georg Roessler of Angelbachtal, Germany, and Andreas Wagner of Graben Neudorf, Germany, have developed a printing machine controller. According to the U.S ....
Washington Inventors Develop Internet Content Usage Experiments Conducting Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Jules S. Cohen of Seattle, Paul K. Kromann of Redmond, Wash., Thomas S. Reeve of Bellevue, Wash., have developed an Internet content usage experiments conducting method. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A system and method for efficiently ...
Taiwanese Inventors Develop Moire Elimination Apparatus
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Chen-Chung Chen and Cheng-Huei Chiang, both of Tai Chung Hsien, Taiwan, have developed a moire eliminator. According to a description of the invention, released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The present invention relates to a method for ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Light Deflecting Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Takeshi Nanjyo and Seiichi Katoh, both of Miyagi-ken, Japan, and Kouichi Ohtaka of Chiba-ken, Japan, have developed a light deflector. An abstract of the invention, released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, said: "Method of deflecting light includes ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Print Order Reception System
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Shuichi Ohtsuka, Nobuyoshi Nakajima and Shinji Itoh, all from Kanagawa-ken, Japan, Norihisa Haneda of Saitama-ken, Japan, and Kazuo Shiota of Tokyo, have developed a reception system. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A print order ...
California Inventors Develop Computational Moire Compensation Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Douglas Curry and David Goldberg, both of Palo Alto, Calif., have developed a moire compensation method. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The amount of moire in halftone printed images is reduced using unique moire intensity functions and ...
Belgian Inventors Develop Computer Constraint Correlation
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Luc Minnebo of Brasschaat, Belgium, Koen Vande Velde of Duffel, Belgium, and Paul Delabastita of Antwerp, Belgium, have developed a computer correlation. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Printing masters are produced by use of an inkjet ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Hologram Recording Medium
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Kazushi Uno, Kouichi Tezuka and Hiroyasu Yoshikawa, all from Kawasaki, Japan, have developed a hologram recording medium. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A hologram recording medium includes a hologram recording layer and a transparent ...
Japanese Inventor Develops Light Source Stability Determination Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Shinya Kubo of Shizuoka, Japan, has developed an image reader. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A scanner has an imaging device which is constituted by a cold-cathode tube, includes a light source for irradiating light to a reflection ...
Taiwanese Inventor Develops High-Speed Calibration Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Chui-Kuei Chiu of Hsin-Chu, Taiwan, has developed a high-speed calibration system. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The present invention provides a calibration method and circuit for outputting an average calibration value used in an ...
California Inventors Develop Linear Position Array Detector System
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Henrik K. Nielsen and Lionel Kuhlmann, both of San Jose, Calif., and Mark Nokes of Palo Alto, Calif., have developed a position array detection system. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A linear position array detector system is provided ...
Japanese Inventor Develops Scanner Apparatus
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Ryota Kato of Aichi-ken, Japan, has developed a scanner apparatus. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A cylindrical lens is positioned between and a polygon mirror and a second slit plate through which light beams from two light beam ...
Taiwanese Inventors Develop Data Processing Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Fu-Chang Lin and Fu-Chin Wen, both of Taipei, Taiwan, have developed a data processor. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A data processing method for a color management module (CMM), applying to image processing, including dividing an ...
Japanese Inventor Develops Image Reading Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Tetsuya Sato of Mishima, Japan, has developed an image reader. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An image reading apparatus of the present invention can suppress an image distortion caused by the vibration of a carriage by varying at least ...
Idaho Inventors Develop Improved Troubleshooting System
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- John Moffatt and Ryan Jamison, both of Boise, Idaho, and Eugene Castro of Meridian, Idaho, have developed an improved troubleshooting system. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Systems and methods are described herein for improved operation ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Image Processing Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Kazuya Imafuku, Kentaro Yano, Masao Kato and Akitoshi Yamada, all from Kanagawa, Japan, have developed an image processor. According to a description of the invention, released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The present invention relates to an ...
Pennsylvania Inventors Develop Objects Processing System
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- William D. Lusen of Ambler, Pa., Bruce M. Flamma of Phoenixville, Pa., and Frank W. Racis of Spring City, Pa., have developed objects processing system. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The invention is directed to a system for processing ...
Japanese Inventor Develops Image Reading Apparatus
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Yoichi Nakamura of Kanagawa, Japan, has developed an image reader. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The present invention provides an image reading apparatus capable of reading images with a sufficiently wide dynamic range. An image ...
DOTHAN CITY COMMISSION ISSUES AGENDA FOR MARCH 25 MEETING
Mar 25, 2008 ... The Dothan City Commission issued the following meeting agenda: Invocation: Pastor Earl Clark Pledge of Allegiance: Commissioner Barbaree Roll: Thomas, Matthews, Newsome, Lee, Craig, Barbaree, Seagle 1. Previous Minutes: * Minutes of Meeting of March 11, ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Sample Analyzer
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Kunio Harada and Sakuichiro Adachi, both of Hachioji, Japan, Hideo Enoki of Chiyoda, Japan, Hironobu Yamakawa of Toride, Japan, and Tomonori Mimura of Tomobe, Japan, have developed a sample analyzer. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The ...
Japanese Inventor Develops Reflective Optical Encoder Sensor Head
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Takeshi Ito of Hino, Japan, has developed a sensor head. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A sensor head is used with a scale having a periodic optical pattern to constitute a reflective optical encoder. The sensor head includes a light ...
Israeli Inventor Develops In-Flight Drop Location Verification System
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Eyal Teichman of Hod-Hasharon, Israel, has developed a drop location verification system. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A system measures a location of a drop delivered by, for example, an ink-jet type applicator. An image of the drop ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Holding Distortion Measurement Method
Mar 25, 2008 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 25 -- Nobuaki Ueki of Saitama, Japan, and Koji Otsuka of Yokohama, Japan, have developed a holding distortion assessing apparatus. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "There are carried out a first measurement operation for measuring the shape of a ...